Postdoctoral Researcher – Neurodegenerative diseases

Union: Non-Union
Number of Vacancies: 1
New or Replacement Position: New
Site: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Department: Research
Reports to: Senior Scientist
Hours: 37.5 Hours Per Week
Salary Range: $54,902 - $71,372 Annually
Shifts: Monday - Friday
Status: Temporary Full-time
Closing Date: March 30, 2026

Program: Mitacs Accelerate Umbrella – Target 2035 Fellows

Position Summary:
This project focuses on the discovery and development of small-molecule ligands targeting human proteins implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. Using affinity selection mass spectrometry (ASMS) and complementary DNA-encoded library (DEL) screening approaches, the project will evaluate target tractability, identify and validate ligands, and initiate chemical probe development. The postdoctoral researcher will be embedded in an early-stage drug discovery team, gaining hands-on experience from target to starting points for therapeutic development. This will include protein expression and purification, biochemical and biophysical characterization, and high-resolution structure determination (including X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-EM) to guide hit optimization. They will also play a central role in assessing target ligandability and contributing to develop screening strategies, including high-throughput approaches to uncover high-quality starting chemical matter, including E-ASMS and DEL-ML.

In this unique training opportunity, the Target 2035 Fellow will be embedded in a highly collaborative, international research program and supported by a multidisciplinary project team. The postdoctoral researcher will work closely with experienced medicinal chemists, machine learning scientists, automation and software engineers, biochemists, and cell biologists, contributing to cutting-edge, data-driven drug discovery efforts alongside academic, industry, and technology partners. In close partnership with medicinal chemists, the postdoctoral researcher will drive hit validation, structure–activity relationship (SAR) development, and early compound optimization, leveraging integrated structural and functional insights to inform compound design toward a chemical probe. This position offers exceptional interdisciplinary training, high-impact collaboration at the biology–chemistry interface, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to an area of profound medical and societal importance.

Appointment, Training Program, and Research Environment

This position is part of the Target 2035 Fellows program, supported through a Mitacs Accelerate Umbrella program. The engagement is offered as a full-time postdoctoral appointment for an initial one-year term, with the possibility of renewal for up to two additional years, subject to performance, funding availability, and program requirements.

The postdoctoral researcher will be embedded within University Health Network’s research environment and will contribute to collaborative research aligned with Target 2035, a global open science public-private partnership focused on accelerating early drug discovery through the generation of high-quality chemical tools and protein–ligand interaction data for artificial intelligence and machine learning. Training is provided through academic supervision, day-to-day integration within UHN’s research teams, and participation in collaborative projects involving a global team of academic, technology, and industry partners.

The positions offer a highly collaborative environment, access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, and the opportunity to contribute to research addressing a major unmet medical and societal need.

Duties:

• Design, execute, and troubleshoot well-controlled experiments across protein biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology
• Maintain accurate, timely experimental records using electronic laboratory notebooks, ensuring data and metadata are organized, reproducible, and publication-ready
• Analyze and critically interpret experimental data, integrating structural and functional results to guide next steps
• Communicate results clearly in project meetings and with interdisciplinary collaborators, including medicinal chemists, to support SAR and compound design
• Contribute to manuscript preparation, data reporting, and a rigorous, collaborative research environment in line with best research practices

• Awarded a PhD within the previous 5 years in biochemistry, chemical biology, structural biology or a related discipline
• Strong experimental background in one or more of the following:
  1. Protein expression and purification
  2. Biochemical and/or biophysical assay development
  3. Structural biology (X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-EM)
• Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and interpret experiments independently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Track record of high-quality, peer-reviewed publications
• Enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research and collaborative science

Preferred

• Experience integrating structural and functional data to inform hypothesis-driven design
• Interest in translational science and early-stage drug discovery

Why join UHN?
In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.